Is Kalihiwai Beach open?
No closures reported
No County, State or Health Department notice closes Kalihiwai Beach. Checked Oct 28, 3:01 pm HST. Details
Weather Service alert
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Sunrise and sunset
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Kalihiwai Beach in 3D
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Drag to spin · Heights doubled; waves are for illustration, not a surf report ·
Known hazards
“Asalele was last seen Saturday afternoon swimming at Kalihiwai Beach, on the North Shore, when he became distressed.”County of Kauaʻi (Kauaʻi Fire Department), 2022-10-12
“Officials continue to advise against swimming or ocean activities along these shores due to strong rip currents”Hawaii News Now (reporting a suspected drowning at Kalihiwai Beach), 2025-04-09
“A Brown Water Advisory has been issued at Kalihiwai Bay Beach.”Kauaʻi Now, 2020-09-23
Closures and alerts
Closures and advisories
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Official alerts
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Conditions
Surf
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Weather
Tide
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Parking and access
Parking
Roadside parking along the lower Kalihiwai Road on the Kīlauea side, right behind the sand. There is no marked lot, and spaces fill on busy days. Keep clear of the private driveways along the road.
Getting to the sand
From Kūhiō Highway (Route 56) west of Kīlauea, turn onto Kalihiwai Road and follow it downhill to the bay. The sand is a few steps from the road. The other Kalihiwai Road, on the far side of the highway bridge, ends across the river; from that side you have to wade the river to reach the beach.
Lifeguard
Not guarded. The County of Kauaʻi Ocean Safety Bureau doesn't list a lifeguard tower here.
Where we stay. We stay at Honu Hale Sunrise in Princeville. It’s ours.
See Honu Hale SunriseAbout Kalihiwai Beach
Kalihiwai Beach is a curve of sand at the head of Kalihiwai Bay on Kauaʻi's North Shore, between Kīlauea and ʻAnini, where the Kalihiwai River meets the sea. To reach it, turn off Kūhiō Highway onto Kalihiwai Road on the Kīlauea side and follow it down a steep, narrow stretch to the bay, where cars park along the road beside the sand. Ironwood trees shade the back of the beach. ʻAnini Beach is a separate beach farther west, reached by a different road.
People come to surf, bodyboard, paddle and picnic. In winter, surfers ride a break off Kapukaamoi Point, the bay's eastern point, and guides describe it as a wave for experts. On the river side, kayakers and stand-up paddlers head upstream. The road is split in two because the 1957 tsunami destroyed the bridge that once linked its two ends across the river; a yellow siren pole on the beach road recalls it. There is no lifeguard and there are no County facilities, and drownings have been reported here.
Kalihiwai Beach (also called Kalihiwai Bay) is a beach on Kauaʻi’s North Shore, on the north-facing coast. No County lifeguard tower covers it. Its surf follows the National Weather Service forecast for North-facing shores, and its tides follow NOAA’s Hanalei Bay station.
Questions
Is Kalihiwai Beach open?
The top of this page shows any closure or advisory that the County of Kauaʻi, the State (DLNR) or the Hawaiʻi Department of Health has posted for Kalihiwai Beach. We check every 3 hours. If our last check is more than a day old, it says “Status unknown” instead of guessing.
Where is Kalihiwai Beach, and how do you get there?
Kalihiwai Beach is on Kauaʻi’s North Shore. Its public access point is at GPS 22.21625, -159.42765. Directions in Google Maps. The map on this page shows lots that OpenStreetMap marks as public.
Is there a lifeguard at Kalihiwai Beach?
No. Kalihiwai Beach has no County lifeguard tower. The nearest guarded beach is the place to ask about conditions.
Where do you park for Kalihiwai Beach?
Roadside parking along the lower Kalihiwai Road on the Kīlauea side, right behind the sand. There is no marked lot, and spaces fill on busy days. Keep clear of the private driveways along the road.
Can you swim at Kalihiwai Beach?
That changes day to day with the surf, and this site doesn't make that call. Check the North-facing surf range above, any alerts, and a lifeguard at the nearest guarded beach. Hazard ratings for guarded beaches are at hawaiibeachsafety.com.
Report conditions
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Sources
- Closures: County of Kauaʻi, DLNR, Hawaiʻi Department of Health
- Surf, weather and alerts: National Weather Service Honolulu
- Tides: NOAA station 1611683
- Parking lots on the map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sources last checked October 26, 2026.